PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA REQUEST

 

Owner/Applicant:

Board of Supervisors Meeting Date: 

Brookside Communities, LLC, owner

Fauquier County Public Schools, applicant

September 16, 2002

Sponsor:

 

Larry L. Weeks, Scott District Supervisor

 

Staff Lead:

Department: 

Elizabeth A. Cook

Community Development

Topic:  Special Exception #SE03-S-02, New Fauquier County Middle School

             Scott Magisterial District

 

Request:

As the applicant, Fauquier County Public Schools (FCPS) is seeking special exception approval pursuant to Section 5-500 of the Zoning Ordinance to allow for construction of a middle school and associated facilities.  In May 2002, the Board of Supervisors approved the Brookside development, which included a designated location for a middle school site to be dedicated through a proffer condition.  FCPS is now requesting special exception approval to construct that public middle school on the designated R-1 (Residential-1) zoned property.  The property is located on the west side of Riley Road (Route 676) approximately 2,000 feet north of the intersection of Riley Road and Dumfries Road (Route 605) in the New Baltimore Service District.

The property is designated as an elementary school site in the Comprehensive Plan, and this application would be consistent with a school use.  It is the staff’s position that the use as a middle school, rather than an elementary school, would not conflict with the residential uses in this area.  Also note that this proposed school replaces the middle school site identified in the Comprehensive Plan for location at Vint Hill.

The Comprehensive Plan identifies Riley Road from Route 605 to the future relocated Route 676 to Route 215 as an Urban Collector (Brookside/Vint Hill Parkway).  The proposed middle school is located on this future section of Riley Road.  A finding is needed by the Board of Supervisors, pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance standard, that schools be located on a major collector (or its equivalent or higher) is met by the school's location on an unconstructed section of proposed relocated Riley Road.  Currently, this road segment is under design review by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the County.

The new building would be approximately 114,000 square feet, consisting of masonry bearing walls and steel column and beam construction.  The exterior will be a brick façade and pitched metal roof and will include operable windows.  Final site plan approval will be required prior to issuance of a building permit.

 

Planning Commission Review

The Planning Commission held a public hearing on this application on August 29, 2002, and voted unanimously to approve the special exception request, subject to the following conditions:

  1. The special exception is granted for and runs with the land indicated in this application and is not transferable to other land.
  1. This special exception is granted only for the purpose(s), structure(s) and/or uses indicated on the special exception plat approved with this application, as qualified by these development conditions.
  2. The applicant shall construct all road improvements required by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
  3. The school site shall be served by a regional stormwater management facility.
  4. The applicant shall effectively screen all off-site parking, loading areas and tennis courts.  These areas shall not be located in any required yard.
  5. The applicant shall provide emergency access to all athletic fields that are not directly accessible from parking areas.  The access location and design shall be reviewed and approved by the County Engineer and the Emergency Services Coordinator prior to approval of the final site plan.
  6. No structure shall be located within 100 feet of any adjoining property line, which is in a Residential or Rural Zoning District.
  7. All lighting shall be in conformance with the Fauquier County Zoning Ordinance and positioned downward, inward and shielded to eliminate glare from all adjacent properties.
  8. The applicant shall accommodate a shared entrance with the library site in close proximity to the common property boundary, if the library is to be located on an adjacent parcel.
  9. A trail shall connect the school with the adjacent residential subdivisions.  Final location is to be approved by the Parks and Recreation Department.
  10. Pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance requirements, a minimum of 430 square feet of usable outdoor recreation space area shall be provided for each child that may use such space at any one time.
  11. The applicant shall provide berming and landscaping along the sport fields to assist in noise abatement in consultation with the Department of Community Development.

The Planning Commission staff report is available if requested.

 

Requested Action of the Board of Supervisors:

 

Hold a public hearing and take appropriate action. A resolution for approval as recommended by the Planning Commission is attached for consideration. 

 

Financial Impacts Analysis:

 

There was no financial impact analysis required for this request.

 

Identify any other Departments, Organizations or Individuals that would be affected by this request:

Fauquier County Residents

Fauquier County Schools

 

Attachments:

A.     Resolution of Approval

B.     County Map

C.     Vicinity Map

D.     Special Exception Plat